Transmission mismatch?

[AirVegas]

I believe my body tag indicates that it is a 4-speed transmission. However, the transmission is actually a 3-speed in it. Most of the car seems very original so I was surprised by this. Do you agree that the build originally was a 4-speed?
https://1drv.ms/u/s!Aq7EGsxuOG4zjJ4wJ5h9dkScCJjmew

[azdave]

The "L" in Group 2 does show the chassis was supposed to be a 4-speed from the factory.

[bbodie52]

W2LS4P5W

1965 Fisher bodytags ACC line. (WRN and LOS)
The Letters are listed in groups. Letters following a number is in that group. The code letters are listed in the order they would appear. Some letters are in more than one group

First Group ( no numeric indicator)
E = RPO A01 Tinted Glass ( Soft Ray glass in all windows)
O = Two tone paint trimpiece (sedans)/ Manual top (pre Jan 65 LA cars only)
D = RPO C06 Power Top
W = RPO A02 Tinted Windshield only
L = folding rear seat (500 series only)

2 = Second Group
M = RPO M35 Powerglide Automatic
L = RPO M20 4 Speed
E = RPO C60 Air Conditioning
P = (LOS cars only) 2 spd Wipers (LOS listed this separately from the CC group)
R = RPO U80 Rear speaker
S = RPO U73 Rear ant.
H = Heater delete (code carried over to 66)

3 = Third Group
C = Padded Dash
A = Rear armrest on 500 sedans

4 = Fourth Group
P = RPO Z01 convenience group ( 2 sp wipers, washers, day/night inside mirror).
O = RPO L87 Turbo engine
U = Spare tire lock
F = Outside Remote Drivers Mirror/ with CC group

5 = Fifth Group
W = RPO A49 Deluxe Seatbelts ( Chrome Buckles)
O = Seatbelt delete
G = std rear seatbelt
Y = dlx rear seatbelts
Unknown if the dash at the end of the ACC line has any meaning. (On 50% of WRN tags)

RPO M20 is, in fact, a 4-speed option (not a manual transmission option). The 3-speed manual transmission is considered STANDARD.
The other transmission option is M35, for the Powerglide Automatic transmission. Your Corvair originated from the factory with a 4 speeed manual transmission, which at some point in its life was changed to a 3-speed substitute. Perhaps the original transmission failed at some point, and the owner opted to install an available 3-speed rather than search for a replacement 4 speed or repair the original transmission.

[AirVegas]

Thank you. It appears to have no place for a backup light switch either so it much be from an FC.

[AirVegas]

Thank you. It appears to have no place for a backup light switch either so it much be from an FC.

[bbodie52]

I believe that none of the 3-speed transmissions had a mounting location on the transmission for the backup light switch. On the 3 speed, a switch was mounted in the tunnel next to the shift tube. Clark's Corvair Parts also markets this switch mount "Fix-It Kit" for use in 4-speeds as an option to the 4-speed mount, which is somewhat vulnerable to physical damage.

See 1961 Chevrolet Corvair Shop Manual - Section 8 - Electrical Systems, page 8-44 for the schematic wiring diagram, and page 8-55 for the BACK-UP LAMP SWITCH REPLACEMENT (3-SPEED ONLY)

1962-1963 Supplement - Chevrolet Corvair Shop Manual - Section 8 - Electrical Systems has a much -better schematic diagram that includes the backup switch.


http://www.corvair.com/user-cgi/catalog ... N&page=84B


Part number C5364: 61-65 4SP BACK-UP SWITCH *EXACT REPRO BOOT & GASKET (C383A) INCLUDED

Weight: 0 lbs 10 oz
Catalog Pages(s): 84B
Price: $ 53.65



Part number C8379: 4 SPEED BACK UP SWITCH FIX-THEY LEAVE OLD SWITCH IN PLACE-THIS WORKS OFF SHIFT ROD

Weight: 1 lbs 0 oz
Catalog Pages(s): 84B
Price: $ 39.35




1156 bulbs only belong in the backup light sockets. The two locking pins in the 1157 bulb are positioned at different heights on the side of the bayonet base/lamp socket, to ensure that they are properly inserted.

These illustrations may help. The 4-speed manual transmission is the only one with a switch on the transmission. The 3-speed manual switch is inside the tunnel, on the shift linkage, and the Powerglide automatic is behind the instrument panel.














1965 Corvair - 3-Speed Transmission Backup Light Switch Replacement